With extreme heat becoming the new normal worldwide, cooling skincare—once merely a summer marketing gimmick—has now evolved into a functional skincare segment with long-term growth potential. Climate-adaptive cosmetics have become a core focus for the industry, and cooling skincare has transformed from an optional selling point into a market necessity.
At the Cosmet’Agora 2025 industry summit, BASF unveiled four key formulation themes for climate-adaptive skincare, with ‘Hydrating & Cooling’ explicitly identified as one of the core approaches to addressing heat-related damage. According to an industry report by GII (Global Information Intelligence), the global market for cooling skincare gels reached US$75.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to US$105.89 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8 per cent over the forecast period; Furthermore, according to a report by Coherent Market Insights, the global after-sun care market is valued at US$1.3 billion in 2026 and is expected to grow to US$2.3 billion by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.1 per cent. The growth potential in these two key market segments is clear. In its 2026 K-beauty trend round-up, *Vogue* listed temperature-responsive cooling skincare as a key category of the year, highlighting its ability to address heat-induced ageing, skin redness and inflammation. Consumers are no longer solely focused on long-term skincare benefits; they increasingly value the soothing, cooling sensation felt the moment the product is applied, with sensory experience becoming a core criterion in skincare consumption.
Cooling skincare has become a necessity, underpinned by three key market drivers.
Firstly, consumer demand has shifted towards immediate skin-feel repair; the instant cooling and soothing sensation provides rapid comfort to the skin, aligning with the current trend towards enhanced sensory experiences in skincare;
Secondly, extreme heat has fuelled demand for protection against heat-induced ageing, as high temperatures exacerbate skin oxidation and inflammation; cooling skincare has thus moved beyond being a summer-only category to become a year-round staple in skincare routines;
Thirdly, social media continues to amplify the category’s popularity. Statistics from the third-party beauty data platform Spate show that the frozen face mask category has seen a year-on-year increase of 692 per cent, with TikTok contributing 84 per cent of the buzz. Related content has grown by over 1,000 per cent year-on-year, with the platform averaging 590 Google searches and 40,300 TikTok views per week; the sector remains in its early growth phase.
Overseas beauty brands have already taken the lead in establishing a presence in this sector, with flagship products demonstrating market acceptance. Dr. Jart+’s Frozen Rubber Mask averages 2,800 Google searches per month, making it a benchmark in the category; in June 2026, the South Korean brand Rael launched at Ulta Beauty, introducing a soothing hydrogel frozen face mask formulated with cross-linked hyaluronic acid, peptides and mushroom extracts, designed to cool the skin and reduce puffiness; Some By Mi’s PDRN cooling mask attracts 33,500 platform views per week; Dermal’s cooling cotton pads were selected by *Vogue* as a representative cooling product; Aestura’s Repairing and Soothing Cream has undergone third-party clinical testing, demonstrating a 94 per cent reduction in skin redness and an 84 per cent increase in skin hydration, with data supporting its immediate cooling and soothing effects.
The core concept behind cooling skincare lies in delivering both a ‘sensory experience’ and ‘tangible benefits’—consumers seek not only an instant cooling sensation upon application, but also visible soothing, anti-redness and moisturising effects. Through its professional OEM/ODM model, Aisen offers brands three types of practical development solutions.
1. The cooling and soothing gel, cream and face mask range features centella asiatica, aloe vera and panthenol as its restorative base, combined with nano-encapsulated menthol derivatives to provide both an instant cooling sensation and long-lasting soothing effects.
Functional Skincare OEM/ODM – R&D-Driven Contract Manufacturing | Aisen Bio-www.aisenproskin.com
2. These cooling cotton pads are suitable for a variety of situations, such as morning puffiness, post-workout redness and sunburn. Their refreshing, water-based formula leaves no sticky residue and is quickly absorbed.
3. The Cooling After-Sun Care Range capitalises on the rapidly growing after-sun market to create multi-functional skincare products formulated with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and restorative ingredients.
Whilst most brands treat the cooling sensation merely as a short-term summer marketing gimmick, Aisen utilises its proven delivery technology and standardised formulation system to create scientifically validated, long-lasting cooling skincare products. This enables brands to capitalise on the global growth trend in cooling skincare and develop distinctive, long-lasting bestsellers.